What are the natural warning signs that a tsunami may occur?

Answer 1

The Ocean pulls back until all you see is wet sand and not to long from that a wave will come. It looks small but it is most certainly not a small wave. Once it gets close any in the path will be swept away.

Answer 2

Here are most of the signs that a tsunami may be approaching.

There is an earthquake in the coastal areas. Most tsunamis are generated by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions that occur underwater. So, if there are tremors on land near coastal areas, keep a lookout for other possible signs. Earthquakes lasting up to 20 seconds at coastal areas suggest a huge possibility that a tsunami is approaching.

There are a slight swell in the water surface. Tsunamis approaching land will not cause a huge wave out at sea, but only when it reaches the shore. This is because the seabed gets shallower when at shoreline, causing the back of the tsunami wave to move faster than at the front, and resulting in the rising height of a wave. This may be difficult to spot, but it should look a little unusual from normal situations.

There are animals moving around and/or towards shore. In earthquakes, some animals, which have a 'sixth sense', are able to predict earthquakes and start to behave wierdly, for example, escaping from or to somewhere in large numbers. These animals may be toads, elephants and even some insects etc. Sometimes, birds may be seen flying towards the shore from the open sea. This may not always happen but it can indicate danger out at sea.

Waters and waves are rough and are not surfable. Waters may be filled with debris when washed up to shore because a tsunami wave spans the whole height of the ocean and brings up debris on the seabed unlike surface waves.

Sounds like ones made by freight trains or a sucking sound can be heard due to underwater turbulences caused by the waves.

The shoreline retreats drastically. This is called a 'drawback'. The water level will drop and expose areas of the shore that are usually submerged. DO NOT go forward to investigate or start collecting stranded fishes on the seashore. This is the time where you start running for your lives, because this indicates that a tsunami is going to happen after this warning sign! When the shorelines recede, frothing bubbles may start appearing on the water surface as well.

On the other hand, the water level may increase and resemble something like a over-high tide. This is due to the force of the wave pushing towards the shoreline instead, which is opposite of the shoreline receding.

When everything do not seem to appear and a tsunami is approaching, it may be due to a very strong underwater earthquake that occurred very far away. The waves may already be weakened and hard to detect. The most direct option is to listen out for any announcements made by the authorities, because the scientist and seismologists have the most advanced techonology and expertise that can help them to detect and predict tsunamis.

Answer 3

One sign a tsunami is coming is the water on the beach will recede from the beach very quickly. By this point you would want to seek higher ground, since the water will come back quickly as a taunami

Answer 4

If you are near the area where the tsunami is triggered, the first sign would usually be an earthquake. Another sign would be the ocean suddenly retreating a few minutes before the tsunami hits.

Answer 5

A sign of a tsunami is the water being drawn back exposing parts of the water that are usually submerged.

Answer 6

A sign of a tsunami is the water being drawn back exposing parts of the water that are usually submerged.